Zoe Bäckstedt, the British top talent from Canyon//SRAM Racing, will not compete in cyclocross for the time being. The 21-year-old rider suffered a serious crash during training last week.
"October was a month of highs and lows," she wrote today on Instagram. "It was a perfect month of training and ‘holiday,’ but a crash during training yesterday resulted in two small fractures in my hand and wrist. It’s unfortunate that I have to miss the first cyclocross races of the season because of this, but give me time and I’ll come back stronger."
The severity of the crash is clear from a photo of her heavily damaged Red Bull helmet. "One thing I know for sure: that helmet saved my life," said the British rider.
Bäckstedt, who ended her road season with a stage win at the Simac Ladies Tour and a victory in the U23 time trial at the World Championships in Rwanda, made an impression in cyclocross last season. She stood on the podium in the World Cups in Dublin, Maasmechelen, and Zonhoven, and in January, she claimed the rainbow jersey for the second year running in the U23 category.
Exactly how long Bäckstedt will be out is currently unknown.
